Ten Days ’til the CDT

See the first video posted to my CDT 2024 playlist on my YouTube channel.

At the completion of my last thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail– in the throes of giardia and barely able to hold on ’til the finish line where Wendy had flown in to meet me- a future return to the CDT was not on my horizon.

Five years later it’s Thursday April 18th, 2024 and I’m 10-ish days from stepping north off the Mexican border back on to that winding path to Canada. With each thru-hike I’ve seen my confidence grow, which I chalk up to that calmness one feels from the experience of having done something enough to know approximately what to expect. Not over-confident but certainly more at ease.

Dirty Bird- trail family from my first thru-hike in 2015- is already on trail, having started NOBO about a week ago. And my hiking brother of three trails (MAV) is hiking right now too, but more toward the center of the country. Later this summer he’ll be heading back to the PCT to wrap up some unfinished miles and complete his triple crown! Can’t wait to cheer him on.

In weather news, per the postholer site, the on-trail snow is currently tracking less than average. Fingers crossed that I can walk northbound the entire way uninterrupted. My Appalachian Trail thru-hike in 2023 was my first NOBO hike and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Late add: after finishing this post, I got news from Dale, a friend and former colleague- that Chuck Layton- also a mutual friend and former coworker from Minnesota- passed away earlier this week. Chuck and I connected on a bunch of levels, attended some great outdoor live shows at the Minnesota Zoo amphitheater (Toots and the Maytals for one) and both ended up living in Washington after leaving Minnesota. The only IT guy I knew with a Ph.D. who was not a professor. Younger than me by a few years as I recall, a major audiophile who owned the best home audio system I’ve ever heard. Chuck, assuming you’re out there somewhere in the great unknown, I’ll make a point of packing our shared memories to carry with me on this hike. And I raise this with love and respect in your general direction!

That’s all for now- see you all on trail in 10 days! All the best,
Max